Monorail conveyer and chain therefor



Aug. 23, 1949. A. s. HAMILTON, JR I 2,479,680

MONORAIL CONVEYER AND CHAIN THEREFOR Filed March 12, 1947 l 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVTOR.

1949} A. s. HAMILTON, JR 2,479,680.

MONORAIL CONVEYER AND CHAIN TI iEREFOR Filed March 12, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 23 1949 v MONQRAIL CONVEYER EHAIN THEREFOR rt ur snam uo 1e, misht n N.- r. Application March 12, 1947, Serial No. $34,023

1 Claim.

inve ion rela es to endless conv yo of the type in which a multiplicity of work-supporting trolleys are connected 1 an endless chain or the like for traveling at uniform distances chart n a mono ail and it h s orrits pu p to a rd a ow cos const uction enabling t e o we ed c01 c in o h i c posed of linksof integral loop formation and arranged be.- tween adjacent trolleys,

In monorail conveyors as heretofore constructed, the practice as bee t m l y a ma hi e or forged ,chain coextensive with the rail or track and having trolleys secured thereto at uniform distances apart, for a cable "coextensive with the and extending successively through the several trolleys which are fastened thereto at unifprmly spaced distances, and it is va particular object of the invention to reduce thecost of manufaeture and to simplify attachment .of the trolleys by nsing forged or welded coll chains or chains composed of integral links of loop formation and to attach such chains fabricated to length hetween adjacent trolleys and thlls establish uniform distancing between trolleys without the necessity of fastening the trolleys to a continuous chain or cable.

Another purpose of the invention is to provide a trolley structure that utilizes chains that are stretched to a uniform length, and to provide means for readily attaching such chains to the trolleys.

A further object of the invention is to afford an economical and practical form of trolley constructed to permit readily attaching a chain at either end ng-gumm Removing it when necessary.

An additional purpose of the invention is to provide a trolley of integral formation having no movable parts and which is both strong and durable, which enables quickly attaching a chain toboth ends, and securely holds the chains when in operative position so as effectively to prevent their unintentional or accidental removal.

To these and other ends, the invention consists in the construction and arrangement of parts that willa-ppear clearly from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, the novel features being pointed out in the claim following the specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation partially broken away showing a preferred embodiment of the invention as applied to a monorail conveyor, and illustrating a multiplicity of work-support- (c1. ar na ins troll ys connected by s rate chains of unif rm len th:

.Fis- 2 a idc elev tio o one of the trolleys;

3 s a iew l nd e i n o th same;

Fi is a ve tical s t al view, pa t al y in c e at en on line 4 o Fi 2 oki in the direction i dicated;

Fi 1 i ehorizc al section .v ew on the i e 5 :5 c i .2 looki i th dir ction indicated. Q1

lsis a d t Vi w n side levat o pa t al broken s o n a s ctio o the ch in m- Meredslic h n mo e a icu ar y to t awi in whic like re ere ce n m als r fer to the same parts throughout the several views, the illustrated embodiment of the invention includes a fi e tal o tra k upon wh h th unr t ns ro ley desi nate e nerallyat 2 travel. being propelled by Suitable operating mechanism a usu l n the a and w c fo ms no pa t of thepresent-invention, while 3 designate the welded sel cha ns fo med o integral mop-shaped links, (or links of other shape of integral or welded formation and extending through adjacent links.

The links 9f such chains vary somewhat in size length and the chains which connect adjacent trolleys are made of substantially unifgnx nlength by stretching each chain unit composed of :a given number of links to the standard length desired, and the separate chains thus formed are individually secured between adjacent trolleys which are constructed to permit quick attachment, ,or removal when a chain is to be replaced, each trelley being constructed for this purpose the following "manner.

trolley indica ed at 2 includes pintles 4 at the top Q11 which the trolley wheels 5 are mounted for supporting the trolley on the track i, and a bif urcated portion 16 at the bottom havin-gopenings l to receive a pin on which the work carrier 8 is :mounted, and in order to enable gniclcly attaching the connecting chains to the tr ey, the latter is provided at each end with means for detachably receiving the end link of 5 l ndfor locking .such link in place after its assembly. The fastening means at the two ends of the trolley are oppositely disposed or ex tend in opposite directions transversely of the trolley, as will appear more clearly hereinafter, and it will therefore be necessary to describe in detail only one of the fastening devices.

At either end, the trolley includes a vertical side wall 8, while 9 designates a post formed ins engaged with the post 9.

tegral with the vertical wall 8 and extendin laterally therefrom at a point approximately intermediate the top and bottom edges of the vertical wall 8. The post 9 is provided at its outer end with an integral elongated locking portion H which lies in a plane parallel to the side wall 8 and is inclined to a vertical plane perpendicular to the side wall as shown. The lockingportion II is of ,a width slightly less than the width of the opening in the end link of the chain, as

for example, the chain link may be provided with an opening in width and the locking porenabling itto The tion would have a width of pass through the end link of the chain. locking portion is of slightly greater length than the length of the opening in the link of the chain and extends above and below the post 9preferably a greater distance above the post than below, and the chain is attached by positioning one end of the connecting link over the lower end of the locking portion H and then by drawing the link upwardly under the locking portion ll, until the upper end of the link clears the upper end of the locking portion, the link can be moved inwardly over the locking portion and is'then free to swing to a horizontal position around the post 9 and behind the locking portion l l.

Accidental removal of the connecting link from the post 9 is prevented by a vertically inclined transverse wall I2 spaced from and parallel to the locking portion ll, while l3 designates a horizontal bottom wall spaced from and beneath the lockin portion I l, and I4 designates a curved wall spaced'from the lower end of the locking portion H and connecting the vertically inclined and horizontal bottom walls [2 and i3 respectively. The walls l2, l3 and I l are spaced from the lockingportion sufficiently to p'errnit'the end link of a chain to be inserted around the locking portion H and between it and the surrounding walls for attaching, and after the link is behind the locking portion II and drops to horizontal position, it rests above the horizontal bottom wall l3 in engagement with the post 9, and in this position, the walls [2, l3'and Hi effectively prevent sufilcient movement of the linkto permit its removal over the locking portion ll.;-

To engage or disengage a chain with atrolley, it is necessary to position the-connecting link at an inclination to the horizontal and to the next link of the chain in line with the locking portion ll so that it can be inserted thereover, and at the same time it is necessary to swing the trolley slightly so that the end being connected-is tipped slightly. downwardly away from the track on which it moves, such tipping movement of the trolley being sufficient to permit the end link of the .chain to be moved upwardly far enough so that it can be pushed laterally over the upper end of the locking portion II and then swung downwardly behind the locking portion to horizontal position, resting above the bottom wall l3 and In order to facilitate attachment and removal of the connecting chains and to provide a balanced structure, the vertical I wall 3, connecting post 9 and correlated parts are in reversed position transversely at the two ends of the trolleyas shown; 7 I

With the arrangement described, it is possible to employ a welded coil chain, or a chain composed of integral loop-shaped links, involving a much more economical structure than a machine or forged chain and to secure the separate chains to adjacent trolleys so thatflie trolleys of a conveyor are uniformly and equally spaced as required for the driving instrumentalities of such an'ejndless conveyor, and the invention also permits of quicklyattaching the opposite ends of such a chain to adjacent trolleys or easily removing them from the trolleys when necessary .forreplacement, servicing, or repair, and while in operative position, the chains are securely fastened to the trolleys and effectually held against accidental or unintentional removal so that the conveyor has the same degree of efiiciency as one employing an endless machine chain or cable, while the cost of production is greatly reduced and the time required for removing or replacing any part of a chain or a trolley is considerably lessened. I 7

While the invention has been described'with relation tothe particular structural embodiment hereinshown, it is not restricted to the details disclosed, and this application is intended to cover such changes or departures as may come within the purposes of the improvement or the scope of the following claim.

I claim:

In an endless conveyor, the combination with a track and a series of work-supporting trolleys movable thereon and spaced from each other, of separate chains of substantially uniform length connecting adjacent trolleys, interlocking means on each trolley engaged with the chains connected thereto andincluding vertical side walls, posts extending laterally from said vertical side walls,an elongated locking portion integral with each post and-extending perpendicularly thereto at the outer end of the post, said locking portion being, inclined and extending a greater distance above the post than below, an inclined transverse wall parallel to and spaced from said locking portion, a horizontal bottom wall beneath said looking portion and spaced therefrom, anda curved wall connecting said bottom and transverse walls and extending around the lower. end of said locking portion inspaced relation'thereto.

. ARTHUR S. HAMILTON, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS of record in the Number 

